After numerous days of torrential rains and relentless wind gusts, it’s refreshing to get a glimpse of blue in the sky. Could winter’s fury finally be giving way to a calm resignation that its days are numbered?
Strong winds caused many tired and weakened trees to snap. There seem to be even more diagonal lines in the forest.
Rain water has gathered in the recesses beneath uprooted trees and in lower lying areas in the woods. Known as vernal pools, these temporary wet areas not only provide animals with access to fresh drinking water, but also contribute to the biodiversity of the forest. Amphibians thrive around these pools as do numerous varieties of mosses and grasses. They will slowly dry up, but be filled again during subsequent rainstorms.
The rain melted all the snow, which is not at all good for snowshoe hares still wearing their winter white coats. By contrasting more with the landscape, they become easier prey for foxes, coyotes and bobcats. Hares will begin acquiring their brown coats later this month. Until then, they’ll just have to keep a low profile and run a little bit faster if they want to survive until spring.
After every storm, the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer.
~ William Alger
Flandrum Hill 
Past Bridgewater (by LaHave River) I noticed a lot of homes had temporary “lakes” in their front yards. On the river side, the woods was immersed in water, like a water forest. It looked magical. I’m glad the rain is over though.
I still have snow, send your bunnies over here!
Grace, the water forest has been drying here. It’s neat how some trees are able to handle that temporary submersion.
As for the bunnies, I’ll send them Hare Express 🙂
I happened across your blog by accident one day and was truly inspired. I now have your posts come directly to my email and I look forward to reading each one.
I looked out my living window this morning (in Winnipeg) and we had absolutely gorgeous frost on our trees. I grabbed my camera!
Thank you!
Well thank YOU Suzanne in Winnipeg 🙂 I’m so glad you were able to find some inspiration here. Frost-covered trees are so photogenic.
Nice walk in the woods! Mine are still full of snow–and hare tracks. The birds think it’s spring, though. Woodpeckers drum and crows cry the news from the tall trees. They must know something I don’t know.
Gerry, what they know is what they see. They are so much more sensitive to light than we are. The increasing daylight hours bring about so many hormonal changes. Things will soon be getting very busy in the woods.
My boy used to love those pools…he would bring home all sorts of ‘cool’ things from them – salamanders were his favorite! I never knew they had a name! And now I know why there seem to be so many more birds all of a sudden. Once again, I’ve learned new nature things from Miss Amy… 🙂
Cindy, I love those pools too. Their ephemeral quality makes them seem even more wonderful. When the boys were young, I worried that they might fall into one of the larger ones. Even though they could be there one day and gone the next, some were still quite deep.
Great that I was able to show you something new 🙂
Vernal pools. Even the name has a lovely ring to it. Nurseries for tadpoles.
Chickadees are singing here.
I think I may have survived another winter.
Pyrit, yes it does have a nice ring to it. Vernal refers to ‘spring’ which is *hopefully* just around the corner here too.
I often wished to find just such a bottle when I was young. Sort of like the genie in the bottle, even if it was just a simple message. Connecting with someone that way still sounds magical. All the debris and trash do not. Thoughtful post. Thank you for it.
Yousei, I never thought of the comparison to a genie in a bottle. Thanks for adding that 🙂 Both types of bottles share the mysteries of time and space, with the promise of connecting to a whole new world of possibilities. Glad you liked the post.